May Moonbeams

[nanniereeree]

Head gynae appt this week she tried to get a womb sample but the pain was horrendous so I've got to go in and have it done under general... Hopefully it will be ok 😔

[barbara2013]

One week to go Jo . Hope you have a lovely Christmas with your daughter. Xx

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@Dodo14 wrote:

Just got back from a round trip to Cornwall for my step mum's funeral.  Very sad and emotional!  Been suffering this week anyway with a bit of a cold, cough and loss of voice.  Roll on end of term!

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[Dodo14]

Just got back from a round trip to Cornwall for my step mum's funeral.  Very sad and emotional!  Been suffering this week anyway with a bit of a cold, cough and loss of voice.  Roll on end of term!

[barbara2013]

Many happy returns Penny. X

[mills1]

Happy Birthday for yesterday xx

[nanniereeree]

Happy birthday penny xxxx

[Penny47]

It's my birthday today and my first cancer free one since 2011!  Spent the morning working with school children.  Brilliant.  Now I am on the phone trying to resolve email issues...it's taken two hours. Life goes on as normal!  Our works do tonite woop woop.  Like you Barbara our tree is sitting outside safely in shelter; it's in a pot.  !!!!

[barbara2013]

Jo -Marie is very wise, you need to get through the funeral first and then re-assess- tough times though. It's odd about Christmas - I have just met up with a friend who was diagnosed with myeloma just before New Year and although I wasn't confirmed diagnosis until early January I remember telling my friend I was sure it was cancer on New Year. Still, onwards. Bought the tree this afternoon and it's sitting in a bucket of water out the back.

[Penny47]

Jo- so sorry to see hear of your loss!  A funeral before Christmas is not great.  We lost my father in law on the shortest day and my Mum in January(not the same year thank goodness!) and we never forget the dates because to us they melt into Christmas.  All said and done, Christmas can be a sad time.  It was hard enough to say a toast to absent friends at Thanksgiving; two of my best friends have died over the past few years.

[Penny47]

Marie- You will never regret this.  I don't know what I would do if I had to work full-time at the moment.  I've only got enough puff for the house and part time job.  Thinking of making more advents for next year?

[Dodo14]

Thanks Marie - you have echoed my thoughts exactly. x

[nanniereeree]

I would say you have every right to be emotional I'm terrible at the moment can cry at the drop of a hat. But this is a bad time for me my mums birthday and dad passing away Christmas Eve 4 years ago it's still early days forme . Mums is 20 years but still upsetting.xxxx see how you are after the funeral then if you need it take the counselling xxxx

[Dodo14]

Cried at the doctors today.  The lymphadema nurse wanted my bp medicine changed but he offered me one that could affect kidney function.  This is what happened to Catherine so I said no and burst into tears.  He offered me counselling - I don't know if I should or whether it is expected for me to be so emotional right now.

The funeral is next Friday.

Good luck with your new venture Marie - what is this about advent calendars?

[Zuzy]

Hope you're doing ok Jo
Marie, how exciting, if your advent calendars are anything to go by you will be just as busy without work!!
Xx

[Dodo14]

My dad died 9 years ago Rachel. She was my last link to him. x

[Rara]

Jo I am so so sorry to hear of the loss of your step mum. How sad for you all especially your father.
Xxx

[mills1]

sorry to hear such sad news jo, thinking of you all x

[nanniereeree]

Ladies I haven't been on here much lately been mega busy, moving daughter christmas and work. I have some news I have decided to retire from my job and live life as I want to and not feel tired all the time. I want to spend some time with the kids and grandkids. I also want to do more of my sewing and not be stuck in a cell which is what it feels like at the moment. So I will finish on my birthday next year when I'm 55 and I will stay on the bank and just cover about six weeks a year. I feel so much better for making the decision to do it.

[nanniereeree]

Oh Jo that's sad I lost my dad just before Christmas it's awful at any time but seems worse then thinking of you and your family. Xxx

[JaneyW]

So sorry to hear your sad news Jo. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Jane x

[Jo_BCC]

Hi Dodo

So sorry to hear you have lost your stepmum.  If you need some added support and can talk, please don't hesitate to give the helpline here a call they're here to support your both emotionally and practically.  Lines open at 9am today until 5pm (weekdays) and 10-2 Saturdays 0808 800 6000

Take care

Jo, Moderator

[barbara2013]

How sad and upsetting for you Jo and for all your family of course. Another difficult time- thinking of you. Xx

[Zuzy]

Oh Jo, I am so sorry.  My thoughts are wiht you and your family. xxxxxx

[Dodo14]

Feeling pretty low right now.  My step mum died this afternoon.  She had cancer aged 50, got the all clear and had a few years cancer free.  Then when she met my dad it came back and she has been battling it ever since.  Finally, after lots of ups and downs she has lost her battle. 

[Penny47]

Barbara that was such good news.  One day I hope MRI scans will look very primitive and we will laugh about them.  I am glad you got a straight answer though. Ta for the thanksgiving wishes.

Aly I am slightly jealous- all the good gigs come up just as we are preparing for Thanksgiving. 

Here I am actually recovering from Thanksgiving.  There has been this flow of kitchen equipment and chairs from the house to the shed, now back to the house after the party so the plumber can work on the pump in the shed (we are on spring water you know) and then the junk can go back to the shed again.  In the middle of all of this we had 7-12 children playing and lots of grownups eating and drinking.  It was fantastic.  A big step forward for me.  Nothing like having 4 dozen people over to take your mind off your condition.  I wouldn't recommend it though.  Yawns.  A round of routine cancer-related appointments to come in the next few weeks including mammo.

[Dodo14]

So pleased for you Barbara. What a relief! x

[mills1]

Fantastic news, what a relief. i am so so pleased, you must fell a lot happier. take care x

[barbara2013]

What a relief- scan was clear ! Thank you so much my lovely moonbeams for your caring messages. Had a bit of a wait but the Onc was really good and explained the mri images- no sign of cancer in spine and only some thickening of uterine wall which is a side effect of tamoxifen. I had got into some dark moments this time as I know you'll understand but I feel brilliant now. Now to start planning Christmas. Hope everyone is doing well and Penny - and anyone else- had a fabulous thanksgiving. Xxx

[Aly1971]

Hello lovely ladies, sorry its been an age since I posted on here - just caught up with everyones posts, the usual ups and downs but really fantastic news on the results that have come through Sarah, Rachel, Zuzy, Jo and Barbara sending you love & hugs to the horrible waiting room.

Wow hard to believe its now been a year from finishing treatment. I've had my ups and downs along the way but have to say at the moment (touching wood massively and taking it one day at a time) I'm feeling pretty good.

Really excited about Christmas, I've got a few weeks work leading up to the kids breaking up for the holidays which will a - help the bank balance & b - help my brain, does anyone else still feel chemo brain all the time - it just doesn't seem to get any better??

Jo Ive also had the first signs of Lypheodema in my hand - a first below and around the knuckles and now in my index and middle finger, like you it comes and goes, I've seen my BCN whose given me some massage tips and am booked in to see a Lymphoedema specialist who will assess it properly. Its really tiny and I felt a bit stupid going to her about it but she said definitely worth getting on top of early.

Apart from that just been getting on with life (as those on facebook have probably seen!!) lots of gigs which has been fantastic if a little tiring. I've also just completeted a 'moving on' course at my hospital which was really fantastic.

Anyway just wanted to pop in say hello and send you all my love, Barbara will be thinking of you, everything crossed for good news tomorrow.

Much love to you all - 2015 here we come!!!

xxxx

[Rara]

Hi ladies,
Barbara, I am keeping everything crossed for good news for you.
Congratulations Jo and Sarah on your good news!
I recently rejoined weight watchers as the pounds have piled on in the last few weeks! So sounds like we should start our own fat club. Wonder what we should call it!?
Love to all.
Ps anyone heard from Trish ? Xx

[mills1]

That's great jo, hope things get sorted for you soon xx

Should have my port taken out on the 8th,  my last echo on the 15th, onc in January but on their books for the next ten years because i did an herceptin trial. I am feeling so much more like my old self appart from the slight joint aches and occasional upset tummy. It has been very quiet on here and i'm hoping it's because we are all getting on with life and moving forward. Sometimes it is still hard to get my head around what happened but now just want to make the most of every day.

Take care all x

[Dodo14]

I have finally been discharged by the oncologist!  My last heart scan shows no change and they are happy that my body has dealt well with all the treatment. 

Now I just need to get my lymphodema sorted out...

[barbara2013]

Sarah- really pleased about your x ray results so will they look further into the pain ?
MRI was fine, jangly and noisy- i was surprised that they did them on a Sunday too. I have appointment with onc a week on Friday for results.

[Penny47]

Sarah I hope you find a way to beat the pain.  SO relieved to hear you are clear.

Barbara- how long will you have to wait for the results?

[Dodo14]

Great news Sarah.  I know what you mean about getting fit/losing weight.  Just not sure how to achieve it in my life. x

[mills1]

Yes, good luck sunday xx

My x-ray came back clear with no signs of disease, don't know what pain is but it's not THAT.

Last herceptin on Wednesday hip hip hooray! Begining to feel more my old self now with a nice haircut and my daughter dyed out all the grey. New year soon and gonna lose weight/get fit!

Love to all

[Penny47]

Barbara: Sunday?  Glad to hear they are working hard at your unit.  Love goes with you! xx

[Dodo14]

Good luck for Sunday Barbara - when will you get your results?

[barbara2013]

I have my mri scan on sunday so not long to wait. My son returned from Japan a few days ago which has been lovely but he flies to Italy on Tuesday for a new job- sigh.

[Dodo14]

Glad they are taking you seriously Barbara, hope it doesn't take too long.  My lymphodema is not too bad at all right now.  Still waiting to see the experts later in the month. x

[Zuzy]

Ahhhh Barbara, glad you spoke to them and they are checking you out, we need to remember that these thoughts are normal, I didn't realise how stressed I was until I'd had it checked, hope you don't have too long to wait xx

[Penny47]

Barbara- you are in my thoughts now...MRI sounds like a good plan to me.  Remember what my CS told me, that MRI results are like a father-in-law after a few drinks....prone to exaggeration.  But worth it.  Defo worth it.

[barbara2013]

Onc has asked for an mri. Feeling calmer although it does well up at times. How is your lymphodoema Jo ?

[Dodo14]

Sorry to hear that Barbara.  Hope they give you the reassurance that you need. x

[Rara]

Barbara, citalopram has helped ease anxiety attacks. Also, I see a clinical pyschologist about once every three weeks to talk things through x

[barbara2013]

That doesn't sound right- didn't literally crash- just a sort of free fall into anxiety !

[barbara2013]

Thanks Jo and Rachel. BCN rang this morning and is speaking with onc so will let me know plan tomorrow. I had been playing it down a bit in my previous calls with her, but this weekend I just crashed through the floor with it and have been finding the anxiety almost impossible to cope with. Asked my GP for valium which she wouldn't give me, suggested antidepressants or counselling. Love to all . X

[Rara]

Wise words Jo! Barbara, please get seen ASAP. Ps I told you that I take citalopram now to ease anxieties
Xx

[Dodo14]

Barbara,  We all have times like that.  I think it is perfectly normal but if you have any real concerns - symptoms that need to be looked at - then contact them first thing tomorrow and ge tthem looked at.  Every time I get a headache I think it is in my brain, every time I cough its in my lungs, every twinge in my body....

My heart and best wishes are with you. x

[barbara2013]

Penny sorry to hear of your problems with the drugs- does GP or onc recognise this and suggest anything you can do ? I am really struggling at the moment, convinced it has spread and in a state of distress.